The Virginian-Pilot 
                            THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, November 21, 1995             TAG: 9511190421
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 
SERIES: College Preview Basketball 
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   52 lines

IS VA. UNION IN A LEAGUE BY ITSELF?

Can anyone hang with the Panthers?

That question is asked almost yearly in the CIAA. This season, though, with Virginia Union ranked No. 1 in the nation in Division II in various publications, the question holds even more merit.

The Panthers, ranked No. 1 in Division II by Street & Smith's magazine and No. 4 in the NCAA Division II preseason coaches poll, may run away with the CIAA title.

Coming off a 26-5 season in which they won the CIAA Tournament title, the Panthers return their starting five, led by 6-foot-8 center Ben Wallace, who averaged 14.4 points and 9.5 rebounds while blocking 111 shots a year ago.

Guard Thomas Meredith (17.6 ppg) lends an outside scoring threat and forwards Luther Bates and James Marshall combine for nearly 20 points and 12 rebounds a game.

At point guard, the Panthers can go small and quick with 5-6 Jay Butler, or big and powerful with 6-4 Maurice Greene, who averaged 12.3 points a year ago, mostly in a reserve role.

The Panthers have stock-piled the bench as well, bringing in Clemson transfer Ihsan Scott (6-9, 235 pounds) and junior college transfers Asim Rose (6-9, 220), Marquis Newby (6-6, 215) and Tony McNeil (6-5, 205). All four are juniors.

``Realistically, we've had a lot of preseason competition for three starting spots - point guard, small forward and power forward - even though there are returning starters at all three positions,'' head coach Dave Robbins said.

Even though Robbins, the winningest active coach percentage-wise in Division II (81.2 percent), has 98 career losses, this team may prolong that milestone 100th loss another season.

He figures all the hype can only help this team.

``Everywhere we go, people figure they can make their season by beating us and they play us hard,'' Robbins said. ``It makes it tough, but in the long run it makes us a better team when it comes to playing in front of big crowds against good competition.'' ILLUSTRATION: [side bar]

CIAA Men at a Glance

For complete listing, see microfilm.

KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION by CNB